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Post by Meira on Apr 22, 2018 9:40:30 GMT -5
 Renata Full Name • Birth Name: Phoenix D'Graal, Darth Renata Nickname • Her Imperial Radiance, Darth Renata, Supreme Dark Lady of the Sith, Pristine Heart of the Four Cults, Sovereign Queen of Dromund Kaas, Warden of Korriban, Caretaker of the Tombs, Unifying Light of the Empire, Liberator of the Outer Rim, and Champion of the Force Race • Human Birthplace • Coruscant Age • 34 Gender • Female Sexuality • Heterosexual Faction • Sith Order, Sith Empire Concept • Rank 3 - Sith Lord Languages • Basic, understands others through the Force Assets • The whole of the Sith Empire is at her disposal. A palace on Dormund Kaas, estate rooms at the Sith Temple on Korriban, a small private ship, Caldera Imperial Yacht and accompanying escort carrier, a platoon of elite Sith soldier guards, and two lightsabers (shoto, standard) with dark red crystals. Appearance Face Claim • Famke Janssen Height & Weight • 5'6", 120lbs Overall Looks • Thin, on the verge of skeletal with fiery red hair and ice blue eyes. She is pale, with a scattering of freckles across her cheeks and shoulders. Her features are sharp, giving her a striking presence. Renata prefers form-fitted dresses made of light, flowing fabrics. She carries herself with a air of power that is not easily disputed. Along with this, however, she also exudes an aura of frailty, causing others to believe she is no real danger. So, while there is no doubt of the power she possesses, others often believe that she needs them for protection. Personality Profile Renata is vain, but everything she believes about herself also happens to be completely true. She is cunning and can read others easily, even without the aid of the force. She is selfish, but not above allowing others to feel as if they have the upper hand. It is all part of her ploy. She is secretive about herself, and never divulges more information than is strictly necessary. All the while, she collects secrets for her own use against others. Renata knows that she is never the most physically powerful person in the room. She also knows that her manipulation of the raw power of the force itself is not the best. What she is often the best at is the manipulation of other beings. Renata has spent years honing her skills of persuasion, to the point that those who find themselves ensnared by her believe that her will is their own, that her safety is important to them. Background Father • Unknown Mother • Lorryn Corto, roughly 50 at death, drug addict, prostitute Siblings • None Other Important Connections • Darth Solis/Jessoin Zarander, 37, Apprentice and Inquisitor Darth Something/Nieraan Somethingorother, Age, Loyal Sithbro Darth Novus/Lidah Faine, 37 (officially deceased), Former Sith Ally/Rival. Now great for favors Darth Eurachis, 41, Dark Lord of the Sith and former lover. A spoiled child who need to end his tantrum and come home to apologize and be forgiven already... Overall History • Sins of the Mother Phoenix's history begins with that of her mother's. Like any other force sensitive child, Lorryn Corto was taken from her family at a young age. As a youngling, she possessed a surprising ambition. It was surprising because, even from the beginning, it was obvious that Lorryn didn't have the skills needed to become a Jedi. The only aspect of the force that she seemed in tune with was through her senses. She was intelligent as well, but this was not enough. By the age of fourteen, she had failed to acquire a master, and was sent to work in the agricorp, where her few abilities might have proved useful. Lorryn had become bitter in the few years she spent in the agricorp, convincing herself over time, that the Jedi had purposely held her back, in favor of more promising students. Her mind became twisted in rage and she abandoned her post, returning to Coruscant, determined to prove herself in whatever way possible. Her lack of credits and any true skill outside of the life the Jedi had fated her to led her into the dark underworld of Coruscant, where her vulnerability was taken advantage of. Within a year, she was addicted to spice and was stooping to any act to get a fix. She was under the power of a mob leader, Arden Wont, who loaned her out to anyone who would pay the cheap price. One of her 'customers' took things a little too far one night, and nearly killed her. Arden was forced to take her off commission until she was well enough again. During this time, Lorryn began to sense the life inside of her. At first, she was terrified, sure that Arden would kill her, or worse, turn her out and cut off her supply of spice. On the contrary, Arden saw this as an opportunity make a few extra credits. He made sure Lorryn continued to carry the baby, planning to sell it as a slave when it was born. A Foiled Transaction a girl was born, weak, barely breathing, and addicted to spice. Lorryn did her best to keep the child alive, as Arden had threatened to kill her if the child died. The arrangements had already been made to sell her to a Toydrian who ran the black market slave trade on the capital planet. On the day the transaction was to be made, the meeting was foiled by a police force. Arden and the Toydarian were arrested and the infant was taken into protective custody. Lorryn, who was not allowed at the meeting, was left alone with no knowledge of what had happened to her child. The girl, dubbed Phoenix by nurses at a hospital because of her fiery hair, was nursed back to health, slowly but surely. She was weaned of her inherited addiction, but never seemed to gain weight at the projected rate. She was healthy, by all means that could be measured, but remained excessively thin. She was released from the hospital around her first birthday into the custody of a local orphanage. Though the staff was not cruel, it was overworked, and Phoenix got little more than the bare minimum of attention. For official purposes, she was given the last name D'graal and her birthday was roughly calculated. By two, she was detected by the Jedi. Youngling At the Temple on Coruscant, Phoenix found a true home. The masters were kind and warm. She was encouraged. She was noticed. Her personality seemed to remain withdrawn as she grew older. Though she would participate in play with the other younglings, she never took a leading role in their games, preferring to remain on the edges. When they fought mock battles, she often would hang back before choosing a side, as if calculating which would be her best bet. She was usually right. As a student, Phoenix inherited her mother's knack for sensing life. She advanced quickly in the art of stealth. Unlike her mother, however, Phoenix also showed great promise in other areas as well. Though not the best, she was a fast learner with a lightsaber, and showed great promise in hand to hand combat. Beyond these physical manifestations of her skill, Phoenix seemed to show an knack for persuading others to see things her way. Many of the masters within the temple noted her ability to convince her fellow younglings into certain lines of action. These were usually innocent enough, such as getting a companion to accompany her to a training room rather than the library. It also seemed to be fairly unconscious on the girl's part, as if she simply had an aura about her that made others want what she wanted. So it was no surprise that she picked up on force persuasion techniques quite easily. Padawan Also, unlike her mother, Phoenix was chosen as a padawan by age 12. Her master, A Jedi Sentinel named Gordon Blackwing, was an observant man, and her tendency to wait out a situation in order to find her angle was not lost to him. He kept a close eye on her, worried that this trait of hers might prove to be a dangerous flaw. Blackwing introduced Phoenix to the duties of a Sentinel slowly. He brought her to Coruscant, where he subjected her to long hours of research in the archives, in preparation for missions he would often not allow her to follow on. She was told that, as a Sentinel, she would face dark and corruptive forces, and that it was better for her to first gain the knowledge she would need before going into the field. She took this advice grudgingly. Sure that he simply didn't want her to come along. Her patience won out, and he soon began to bring her along. Their missions spanned the galaxy, often taking them to the edges of known space. Blackwing still kept her closely reigned in, however. At first she was merely allowed to observe him, only interfering as a last resort. He then slowly began to give her small jobs on their missions. The missions also steadily became more dark and dangerous. This pleased Phoenix, though she did very well in concealing it. She felt a surge of pride, knowing that she had been entrusted, not only by her master, but by the council as well, with the power of seeking out the dark side and silencing it. Blackwing was aware in part, of the change in his padawan, but believed he could keep her in check. Their role as Sentinels was, after all, to come dangerously close to the darker side of the force. A certain level of exposure was to be expected. All the while, Phoenix was subjected to rigorous training sessions. She continued to perfect her Shii-Cho, and Blackwing introduced Niman into her routine. Phoenix, at first, was resistant to the diplomat's style. It was easy to learn, too easy. She wanted a challenge. But Blackwing wouldn't listen, he never listened. Instead, he'd drill her, attacking, changing tactics, never letting her fall into a set pattern. He was unpredictable. He was a master of Niman, and soon, she began to see the hidden strength of the form. As time would pass, she'd come to love it, it's sudden pace changes, it's fluid, wild nature. Phoenix constructed two lightsabers under the guidance of her master, both with yellow blades. One was a standard length and gave off an orange aura around the yellow center. The other was short with a white aura. With two lightsabers, and the extensive practice of Niman under her belt, Blackwing began to introduce the Jar'Kai sub form to Phoenix. She took to the form like a fish to water. Phoenix was 18 when she first truly encountered the dark side. Even though Blackwing was slowly giving her more and more freedom within their missions, he always kept her at a safe distance from the truly dangerous. Phoenix had grown used to this, though she still perceived insult in it. But on a mission to Iridonia, even Blackwing's judgment faltered. The two had been dispatched by the council to investigate what could only be reported as a foreboding presence. A Zabrak Jedi also accompanied them on the mission, as a means to better represent themselves to the planet natives. Once on the planet, the two masters and Phoenix could sense what had been described to them. But no answers ever came from mere feelings. Their investigation began in the political centers, where many politicians reported mistrust of each other. This paranoia extended to security forces, who seemed to be making more and more arrests on smaller and smaller charges. It was as if the air hung with confusion and fear. Blackwing and the Zabrak Jedi probed into the seedier areas of the city that seemed to be the epicenter of this dark force. They did not share much of what they were finding with Phoenix, but she caught bits of hushed conversations between them. Even they seemed uneasy. Two weeks into their investigation and the tension still hadn't lifted. Nor had they found any real answers. Phoenix was dispatched to deliver a report to a waiting politician. As she moved through the city streets, she slowly began to feel a subtle impulse, or urge, she wasn't sure. But suddenly delivering the report, which she knew to be little more than a statement that they still hadn't found anything, didn't seem all that important. She began to veer off path, and before she realized, she was well lost in a maze of back alleys. Once this realization had dawned on her, she became very afraid. It was as if all hope of happiness was gone from her in the blink of an eye. She would never become a knight. Blackwing didn't trust her. He was holding her back, was jealous of her potential. He knew she'd outshine him one day and he couldn't stand it. She found herself at a door, hand poised to knock, but the door opened before she could. She stepped inside as if being pulled. The apartment was small, but well decorated. At the far end of the room, a man sat at a table, a drink in hand. He was handsome, with pitch black hair that hung in gentle waves to his shoulders. His skin was smooth and olive colored, but his eyes were a bright blue, a startling contrast. He greeted her by name, but it didn't seem odd at all that he knew her. She was overwhelmed by a sense of affection for the man, as if he were a lifelong friend she'd not seen in far too long. Phoenix never noticed the time as the hours passed. She was completely submerged in the man's presence. When he spoke, his voice was like water, like wine. He knew her, knew her frustrations, her great, unacknowledged talent. She could be so much more than what Blackwing let on. He could show her, he could teach her. Even now, he told her, he held nearly the whole city in the palm of his hand. True power, he told her, was not in the strength of one's arms, but in the strength of one's will and influence. He could give her such strength, if she would only follow him. His hand was extended toward her, palm up and waiting for hers. Her hand was inching forward, hesitant, but unable to resist. Blackwing came bursting through the door, their Zabrak companion quick behind him. The room filled with flashes of blue, green, and then red. Phoenix was pushed back into a corner with the wave of her master's hand. The duel was quick, but vicious. The Zabrak Jedi did not survive, nor did the stranger. Phoenix and Blackwing left Iridonia that evening, their investigation over. But for Phoenix, all that she had gained from the mission was more questions. An Unexpected Reunion Around age 22, Phoenix and Blackwing were sent on what was meant to be her last mission as a padawan before her trials. They were to investigate rumors of the underground slave trade returning to Coruscant. Blackwing was to act as a merchant, and Phoenix was to be his slave for trade. They spent near a month in the undercity, watching and listening until they caught word of an auction. They informed both Coruscant police forces as well as the Jedi and were instructed to stay undercover until the sting was complete. They never made it into the auction. They located the area, and were able to confirm that slaves were being traded, but as Blackwing conveyed this information via COM link, and old hag of a woman appeared. Screaming JEDI! through the few teeth she had left, she pointed her gnarled bony finger at Blackwing. Her eyes then fell on Phoenix and her face grew slack for a moment. Then, with a surge of strength, she lunged forward, seizing Phoenix around the waist and wailing that her child had been found. Phoenix was startled by the woman's sudden speed and strength and struggled to get free. But now the crowd was swarming, many moving in on the Jedi intruders. She called out to Blackwing, who held her lightsabers hidden in his robes, but they were separated by the mob. In the chaos that followed, Phoenix was struck over the head and fell unconscious. She awoke in a dimly lit room with no windows and only one door. She tried it, but it was locked. Phoenix's calculating mind began to work, trying to work out a means of escape. Days went by, and no one came to the room. She was loosing strength without food, and often slipped into meditation to help conserve her energy. But her meditations were disturbed by visions of the hag, claiming Phoenix to be her daughter. Frustration built as she was unable to rid her mind of the thought, and without Blackwing to hold her in the light, Phoenix was beginning to embrace her darker thoughts. Then, one day, voices could be heard outside the door. They were arguing. One voice was strong and masculine, the other was feeble and feminine. Phoenix recognized that it belonged to the old woman. This woman was, in fact, Lorryn. She had survived the years after the fated loss of her child, waiting until Arden was sprung from prison. Lorryn was trying to convince Arden that this was the child they had lost so many years ago. She argued that, even if she wasn't, this Phoenix was a Jedi. She would fetch him a good price. Lorryn was determined to get back on her Arden's good side, and get another fix in the process. Arden has finally conceded, but noted that they would have to go off world to do the trade. The authorities on the capital planet were sniffing around too much. Phoenix Rising Phoenix was not underestimated. She was kept without food for a few days to drain her of energy. A number of large men then overpowered her, knocking her unconscious before loading her onto a ship. She awoke while they were en route to Tatooine, a new surge of energy, which could only have come from the force, flowing through her. It kept her going, even as she was continually deprived of sustenance. Arden even allowed the crew to have a little fun with her, at their own risk of course. This proved to be a fatal mistake. As one of the crew came into the room where she was being kept on the ship, Phoenix was sitting, in a meditating position and seemed entirely unaware of his presence. But on the contrary, as the man made to brush her cheek with his hand, her eyes flew open, flashing with an anger and rage that she had been feeding on for days. She had called on the force to keep her alive, and felt a new and different tingle as it enveloped her. Where she might have once compared the sensation of the force as a rushing wind, it now was like a warm shroud. Like a blanket, it surrounded her. But this blanket carried needles it seemed, thousands that pricked her every inch. The sensation was very much like pain, but rather than draining, it was exhilarating. As the man stared at her in confusion, a thin, mad smile began to creep across her face. It was the last thing the man would see. Using the dark energy, Phoenix had regained, tripled her strength. His neck was broken and soon he lied crumpled on the floor. Her fit of rage spurred her forward, blindly slaughtering all who got in her way. She didn't see their faces so much as Blackwing's and those of other masters in the temple. Where were they now, when she needed them? They had failed her, and forgotten her to her fate. That stranger, that beautiful man had been right. She could be so much more. She WAS so much more. Her slaughter continued through the ship, ending with the old hag. The woman coward as Phoenix's skeletal figure approached her. She begged mercy. Reaching with her senses, Phoenix knew that this woman had spoken the truth. This was her mother. And she was pathetic. She could sense the shadow of the force that still was tied to the woman, this spice addict, this beggar, and worse. Her heart only hardened as the woman pleaded, but to no avail. After dispatching her mother. Phoenix took control of the damaged ship and, along with it, her own destiny. Phoenix would soon feel the repercussions of her rage aboard that slaver's ship. The power that had filled her drained out, leaving her weaker, hollow. Her recovery was slow, but she brought herself back. This fact, above wall, was in itself a reward. She didn't need Blackwing, or the Jedi. She could take care of herself. She could get anything she needed, and anything she wanted, using her own great talent. And so began three years of living on a whim. Phoenix followed her desires to the outer rim, far from the Jedi and their restrictions. Phoenix used her persuasive talents on the feeble minded, asserting her will on them to gain money, food, shelter, clothing. She found herself dreaming of that stranger, of his promise to guide her, to teach her. But he was gone. She wouldn't have him to show her how to extend her will over so many, as he had. No, she couldn't rely on him, she couldn't rely on anyone. If they didn't die or abandon her, others would only use her for their own gain. It was a hard lesson in reality, that all beings were self serving. But Phoenix was determined not to become just another pawn again. Reborn Phoenix's travels eventually brought her to Zeltros. She found amusement in the hedonistic tendencies of the Zeltrons, and here at least, the self serving could be mutually pleasurable. She would find herself wandering the streets, observing the Zeltrons' natural abilities of affect the moods of those around them. But as she was retreating to a hotel to rest and regain her strength one day, she detected a tremor in the force. Following this tremor, Phoenix soon came to know another Jedi wanting to hide from the council, a Knight named Jahn. The two would soon see a reflection of themselves in the other, and decided to join forces. Taking his ship, Phoenix and Jahn left Zeltros to follow a vision Jahn had. This vision would lead them to Ossus and the beginning of their future. Inside the ancient Jedi library that stood on the forgotten planet, they would meet a man shrouded in the dark side who claimed the title of Darth Iniquitous, Dark Lord of the Sith. It was no doubt that Jahn's vision had led them here to meet this man and learn from him. The two would pledge themselves to his teachings, and in return, he would rid them of their former identities and giving them new ones. Renata, Dark Lady of the Sith was born. Empress In the years that would follow, Renata rose quickly in power with her master and Jahn. However, they would become increasingly isolated, often traveling into the deep reaches of unknown space. After one such trip, with no word or return in sight, the two were deemed lost to either the vast emptiness of space or madness. Most likely both. Renata found herself with more and more responsibility as the Sith Order grew in ranks. She shared this responsibility with Novus and Eurachis, two others newly granted the ran of Darth. As The Inner Sanctum, they were able to competently build the Sith Order into a formidable force that would strike fear into the heart of the Republic. Renata took on several apprentices during this time, though none were worthy until Jessoin Zarander came to Korriban. In him, Renata found a balance that complimented her own power nicely, as well as a zealous delight in carrying out the crueler side of her orders. In this time of war and political maneuvering, Renata also found herself a player in a very dangerous game. Never one to want to shackle herself to another, Renata viewed the banter and tension between herself and Eurachis as nothing more than amusing distraction. But with time and proximity, something more grew between them. Even after the truth beneath their coy words and suggestive double meanings came clear, Renata still struggled with what it meant to open herself up and to be truly vulnerable to another... to trust in that way. With their responsibilities to the Order and the Empire, the two never seemed to find the time to understand what their bond meant, what it could mean. But it was certainly there. As more Jedi joined with the Republic in the war, so too did the Sith bolster the Empire’s forces. There were many of the Sith Aristocracy who opposed the Order’s involvement. There were many of the Sith aristocracy who were silenced. The Empire gained many systems, some freely, others by force, but the sheer size of the Republic was a constant foil. It became clear that they would have to strike where old wounds lingered in order to cripple Republic morale. The attack on Taris was a beautifully brutal affair. Unfortunately, it was also a pyrrhic victory. The Empire’s own losses gave a platform for the more vocal within the Empire to call for blood. Renata and Novus devised a plan that would give the subjects what they want, consolidate power, and free Novus all in one master stroke. Renata, claiming the mantle of Darkness Empress of the Sith, publicly “executed” Novus for her failures on Taris, and was able to officially take control of both the Sith Order and the Empire for herself. Renata chose not to include Eurachis in this plot. Not to betray him, though he would come to believe just that, but because she knew that time was of the essence. They could not afford to squabble over who should take power, or how. The Empire needed swift "justice" and clear leadership. Eurachis was a strong and competent military leader, but he would make a poor Emperor, Renata believed. She would not deny wanting the power, she craved it to her very bones, but she truly believed it the right choice to exclude him at the time. Eurachis was enraged, and nearly killed Renata after the two had disappeared into a private chamber after the public event. Unable to calm him or persuade him to see reason, Renata watched the only man she ever really trusted storm away. She would not see him again for nearly a decade. But Renata could not mourn the loss of him, nor could she let the pain he left behind show. She was Empress now, and she had a job to do. The focus of the Empire then turned toward the war effort. It was becoming painfully obvious that the Republic was content to engage the Empire in a war of attrition. The Republic simply has the number and the resources to wear down the Empire. And the longer the conflict continued, the less sympathetic the outlying and independent systems became. What was needed was a coup de grâce, a blow so devastating that the Republic would be forced to surrender. They needed to attack the heart. Years of preparation led to the attack on Coruscant. And they would have been successful, had it not been for the timely betrayals of certain Sith underlings. The Republic had been surprised, but not nearly surprised enough by the sudden attack. Eventually, they were able to push the Empire back and both powers found themselves retreating to lick their wounds. Enraged, Renata purged through the Sith ranks, but was unable to locate the traitors. With no other choice, she agreed to the armistice with the Republic. Now, the Empire should be recovering and rebuilding, but instead Renata finds herself constantly having to squash would be usurpers, put down renegade commanders, and execute brazen traitors. Each day they grow more bold, and Renata finds herself more alone than ever. |
